Malacañang affirmed on Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains open to engaging in dialogue with all individuals, including political adversaries, following rumors suggesting Vice President Sara Duterte had sought a private meeting with him.
During a Palace briefing, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified that officials have received no official confirmation regarding any such request from the Vice President.
“Wala po tayong makukumpirma,” Castro stated in response to social media rumors over the weekend.
Addressing whether the Chief Executive would agree to meet Duterte if a formal request were submitted, Castro pointed to Marcos’s longstanding position of willingness to confer with critics and political opponents to foster mutual understanding.
However, the Palace official cautioned against interpreting this general receptiveness as an explicit invitation directed at the Vice President.
When questioned whether Marcos maintains his willingness to reconcile or cooperate with Duterte—given the heightened political friction, her pending impeachment trial, and the approaching 2028 presidential race—Castro offered a broader perspective on the Chief Executive’s posture.
“Sa lahat ng kababayan natin, sa lahat ng tao ay open ang Pangulo,” Castro said.
The statements come as the evolving relationship between the Marcos and Duterte camps continues to draw high public interest ahead of upcoming political milestones.